Canberra has become the fourth Australian city to attain ‘Established’ accreditation as a Welcoming City, part of a national network of cities, shires, towns, and municipalities committed to an Australia where everyone can belong, contribute, and thrive.
Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs, said this achievement highlighted Canberra’s initiatives and policies that foster economic, social and cultural inclusion.
“Canberra has always been a city that has welcomed and embraced diversity,” Ms Cheyne said.
Canberra joined the Welcoming Cities network in March 2019. At the time, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT’s membership demonstrated the Territory was a national leader in supporting diversity.
‘Established’ accreditation shows the ACT had “taken action towards becoming a more connected and cohesive community”.
The ACT Government will now work towards attaining ‘Advanced’ accreditation (a commitment in the 10th Parliamentary and Governing Agreement).
The four levels – reaching Excelling and Mentoring – are measured against the first three levels of the Welcoming Cities Standard: Leadership, Social and Cultural Inclusion, and Economic Development.
Assessment and accreditation as a Welcoming City allows jurisdictions to benchmark progress and identify gaps in their welcoming and inclusion practice.
Welcoming Australia CEO, Aleem Ali, congratulated the ACT on the accomplishment.
“Canberra has demonstrated what can be achieved by being welcoming and developing strong partnerships with diverse communities.
“Leadership is the primary focus of the ‘Established’ level of the Welcoming Cities standard, and successful accreditation confirms that the ACT Government is a leader amongst their peers both in Australia and internationally,” said Mr Ali.
Canberra will officially celebrate this achievement at the Welcoming Australia Symposium, to be held in the ACT for the first time on 10 and 11 May, at the National Gallery of Australia.
The Symposium will bring together international, national, and local practitioners, policymakers, researchers, business innovators, and civic leaders to discuss the challenges, benefits, and opportunities of migration, settlement, cultural diversity, and inclusion.
The Canberra Liberals, however, are concerned that racism is on the rise in the ACT; in October, multicultural leaders told Giulia Jones, deputy leader and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, that verbal racial abuse had spiked during lockdown, and their communities were being vilified for having COVID.
“It’s very encouraging to see that the ACT has been recognised as a Welcoming City, but we know there is a lot more work to be done,” Mrs Jones said.
“Multicultural leaders … have made it very clear that this Labor-Greens Government is not supporting them. There is no clear information about services that these communities can turn to.
“The Labor-Greens Government needs to look at ways to support these communities by providing clear reporting and support systems.”
The ACT Human Rights Commission encouraged encouraged all Canberrans to report any instances of racism or racial vilification, or any other type of discrimination experienced in the ACT, by calling 6205 2222, emailing [email protected], or filling in a simple form on their website at www.hrc.act.gov.au.
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